Gas burner provided with a thermocouple element pin contact catch



1966 J. v. BAATRUP 3,265,539

GAS BURNER PROVIDED WITH A THERMOCOUPLE ELEMENT PIN CONTACT CATCH Filed April 2, 1962 3,265,539 GAS BURNER PRQVIDED WiTH A THERMO- (ZOUPLE ELEMENT PIN CGNTACT CATCH Johannes Vagn Baatrup, Sonderborg, Denmark, assignmto Danfoss ved ing. M. Clausen, Nordborg, Benmark, a company of Denmark Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,253 6 Claims. (Cl. 136-419) This invention relates to a gas burner and is more particularly concerned with a gas burner of the type which is provided with a thermocouple.

It is known to provide a gas burner with a thermocouple which is employed to perform some supervising function, e.g. the closing of a valve, which shuts off the flow of gas, when the flame becomes extinguished.

In gas burners of this type heretofore known, the thermocouple has been placed in an unprotected position next to the gas burner and, as a result, the thermocouple has very easily been damaged. Furthermore, the regular cleaning of the gas burner has been hampered by the protruding thermocouple. In addition, an auxiliary flame or a sideward-ly-deflected part of the main flame has had to be provided to supply the heat needed for activating the thermocouple.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas burner-thermocouple assembly of improved construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gas burner-thermocouple assembly of the character indicated which avoids the drawbacks and disadvantages of prior constructions.

In accordance with the invention, the above and other objects are attained by the provision of a construction, in which at least part of the thermocouple is formed by at least part of the gas burner.

In such a construction, all the above-mentioned problems are effectively solved. Protruding parts are avoided and no auxiliary flame is needed. Without difiioulty, the thermocouple can be extended over a larger area, thus increasing the dependability and the electric energy produced.

In particular, the cover of the gas burner forms at least one part of the thermocouple. Normally the cover of the gas burner forms a part which can be removed from the remainder of the gas burner. The cover can, therefore, be constructed according to the invention without changing any of the parts of the gas burner. Furthermore, the cover is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the zone of the flame, which insures that sufiicient heat will reach the thermocouple to activate it, such heat being produced even by a small flame. This latter feature is an advantage which has been Very difiicult to realize in prior constructions.

Preferably, the first junction of the thermocouple is disposed at the cover of the burner and the second junction at a pin which is disposed away from the flame zone, but connected to the cover. Preferably this pin is so disposed that the second junction lies in the path of the gas flow to the burner. Thus, not only the second junction is held at a lower temperature level but all parts of the thermocouple are disposed interiorly of the entire gas burner.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the supply to the first junction takes place through a second pin connected at the first junction, this pin acting together wit-h the first-named pin as securing means for the cover of the burner. First of all, this results in a good electric connection and, secondly, the cover is mechanically secured in place. Heretofore, the cover has been placed loosely on the top of the burner.

" ates 'atet ice In this embodiment, a contact catch for the first-named pin can be provided which, in combination with the pin, forms the second junction. At the same time, according to the invention, therefore, it is seen that not only the usually-used soldered connections can be utilized to form junctions, but there can also be used, in a fully practical manner, junctions formed by friction or clamping connections, or by welding, or by other connecting means.

Further characteristics of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a gas burner embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the burner shown in FIG. 1, with the cover of the burner removed;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cover for the burner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the cover shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 3, of another embodiment of a cover for the burner.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment illustrated comprises a conventional bent pipe burner housing I, having a horizontal neck 2, and a head structure 4. A cover 5 is supported by the head structure 4. The gas is admitted at the end 3 of the horizontal neck 2. The housing 1 is provided with two contact catches 6 and 7 which are insulated from the housing 1, and are connected exteriorly of the housing to two electric wires 8 and 5?. These wires lead to the device (not shown) supervised by the thermocouple in conventional manner.

The cover 5 comprises a pin 10 consisting of a metal different from that of the cover 5 and firmly squeezed, soldered or in other convenient manner secured to the rim 12 of the cover by means of its inclined head 11. The contact between the head 11 and the rim 12 of the cover thus forms the first junction of the thermocouple. The rim 12 of the cover 5 is defined on its underside by a plurality of teeth through which the gas escapes. The inclined extension 13 of a tooth 14 forms a second pin at the end 15 of which the second junction of the thermocouple is placed. This second junction is formed by engaging the end 15 into the contact catch 7 which is formed of a metal difierent from that of the cover 5. In assembling the cover upon the burner, the pin 10 and the pin 13 are inserted into the contact catches 6 and 7, respectively. The cover 5 is thus also mechanically secured in position. Advantageously the pin 10 and the pin 13 have a different cross-section and the catches 6 and 7 have corresponding cross-sections so that correct mounting of the cover in relation to the catches will be insured so that the correct polarity connection to the thermocouple will always be obtained.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the pin 13 of the previously-described embodiment is defined by a pin 16 which is welded at 17 to the cover. The pin 16 consists of the same metal, or a metal having equivalent thermo-electric characteristics, as the cover 5. In order to insure correct mounting of the cover, the cross-sections of the pins 10 and 16 are suitably of different shape. However, in this embodiment, as well as in the previouslydescribed' embodiment, the two pins can be so displaced that they do not form an angle of 180, but a lesser angle e.g. This will also insure correct relative relationships.

During operation of the burner, the first junction 11, 12 is placed at a higher temperature level than the junction 7, 15. By suitable selection of materials of cono a struction, e.g. a pin formed from constantan and a cover 5, including the pin 13, formed from iron, a thermal voltage will occur which, during the presence of a flame, can activate the corresponding supervising device (not shown).

Many variations of the embodiments shown and described are possible Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Not only the cover can be included in the thermocouple, but the remaining part of the gas burner can also be involved. On the other hand, the cover alone can form the complete thermocouple, When it is formed from two different metals. Furthermore, two or more thermocouples can be connected in parallel. This can be eifected, for example, by utilizing additional pins with corresponding second junctions, or both these arrangement can be combined. The invention has been described in relation to the control of a main flame but it will be apparent that it can also be utilized to control a pilot flame.

The manner in which the thermocouple carries out its supervising function and elfects the desired control of the burner forms no part of the present invention. A typical system is described, for example in U.S. Patent No. 2,899,970.

It is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

I claim:

1. A gas burner-thermocouple assembly comprising, in combination, a housing adapted to receive the gas to be burned and having an upper end, a cover removably supported by said upper end but providing spaces for the escape of gas from the housing for ignition, and a thermocouple comprising a first junction disposed at said cover of the burner, a second junction disposed at the lower end of a first pin connected to said cover and extending downwardly into said housing away from the 4 housing, and a contact catch provided interiorly of said housing for the first pin, said contact catch forming with said first pin said second junction.

2. A gas burner-thermocouple assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover forms part of the thermocouple, said cover forming said first junction with a second pin, said cover and said second pin being formed from dilferent thermoelectric materials, and a contact catch is provided in said housing for said second pin.

3. A gas burner-thermocouple assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said second junction of the thermocouple is disposed in said housing at the lower end of said pin in the area of flow of gas to the burner.

4. A gas burner-thermocouple assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said second junction of the thermocouple is disposed in said housing at the lower end of said pin in the area of flow of gas to the burner.

5. A gas burner-thermocouple assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein-said second pin secured to said cover at first junction extends from said cover into said IhOUS- ing and said first pin and said second pin serve as securing means for securing the cover to the housing.

6. A gas burner-thermocouple assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said second pin secured to said cover at said first junction extends into said housing and said first pin and said second pin serve as securing means for securing the cover to the housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1955 Betz 1364.l3 6/1960 Jackson 1364.13 

1. A GAS BURNER-THERMOCOUPLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE GAS TO BE BURNED AND HAVING AND UPPER END, A COVER REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID UPPER END BUT PROVIDING SPACES FOR THE ESCAPE OF GAS FROM THE HOUSING FOR IGNITION, AND A THERMOCOUPLE COMPRISING A FIRST JUNCTION DISPOSED AT SAID COVER OF THE BURNER, A SECOND JUNCTION DISPOSED AT THE LOWER END OF A FIRST PIN CONNECTED TO SAID COVER AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID HOUSING AWAY FROM THE HOUSING, AND A CONTACT CATCH PROVIDED INTERIORLY OF SAID HOUSING FOR THE FIRST PIN, SAID CONTACT CATCH FORMING WITH SAID FIRST PIN SAID SECOND JUNCTION. 